Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
South Alabama
Degnan Homer Lifts Owls to 6-5 Win
4/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 27, 2007
Billy Degnan delivered the game winning home run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Florida Atlantic University defeated the University of South Alabama 6-5 on Friday night at FAU Stadium. The solo blast broke a 5-5 tie and assured FAU of the series win.
The Owls (28-16, 10-13 SBC) opened up a 5-0 lead through the first five innings. After a single run scored in the second inning, FAU pushed across two runs in both the fourth and fifth frames. A solo home run by William Block, his third home run in the last five games, started the fourth inning. Three batters later a Nick Arata triple drove in Justin Martin who had reached on a single.
A Robbie Widlansky leadoff single started the fifth inning and he eventually scored on a Travis Ozga sacrifice fly. Block stepped to the plate after Ozga and picked up his second RBI of the night as he singled home Mike McKenna from third.
While the FAU offense was putting runs on the board, Chris Salberg was holding the Jaguar offense in check. Salberg held the team scoreless through the first six innings and left the game after 6 2/3 innings with a 5-1 lead. Salberg struck out seven and allowed three hits but did not receive a decision.
USA (21-20, 6-13 SBC) worked for four runs in the eighth inning off Mike Obradovich in relief. With two outs and the bases loaded. Lance Heisler and Clint Toomey put together back-to-back bloop hits to score two runs each and tie the contest.
It was then that Degnan had the opportunity to deliver the game winning hit over the left field fence and into the trees in the bottom of the eighth inning. Joey Doan gave up the hit as he pitched a complete game for South Alabama. Doan (3-5) allowed six runs on 11 hits and struck out four.
The USA offense was led by Heisler with a 2-for-4 performance with three RBI.
The series will conclude on Saturday with a noon meeting between the two teams.
